Combined electric pianoforte and organ



. l, March 29, 1927. D A. BARBIERI 622,364

COMBINED ELECTRIC PIANOFORTE AND ORGAN Filed Jan. 4, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet l March 29, 1927. 1,622,364

D A. BARBIERI COMBINED ELECTRIC PIANOFORTE AND ORGAN Filed Jan. 4. 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 M r 29 1927. a ch D A. BARBIERI COMBINED ELECTRIC PIANOFORTE AND ORG'N Filed Jan. 4. 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 7&5 AA,

March 29, 1927. 1,622,364

D A. BARBER:

COMBINED ELECTRIC PIANOFORTE AND ORGAN Filed Jan. 4., 1923 5 shaezs-shee'u 4 f iii/:iii: di

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March 29, 1927. 1;622,364

D A. BARBIERI COMBINED ELECTRIC PIANO'ORTE AND ORGAN Filed Jan. 4. 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 E-ll- NX: 9 g 7/ 1 KENroR. QA. Bar /er/ Wwf@ A TTORNEYS.

Patented Mar.. 239,

CGE'BINED ELECT/C FANGFGBTE AND GRGAN.

Application filed January 4.-, 1923, Serial No. Sl'l, and in italy January 4, 1322.

This invention has Vfor its object to provide an improved electric musical instrument coniprising a pianoforte ot any type, upright or grand.. and an organ. hese tivo instruments ma;v be located close togothcr or apart. beine' connected to each other through the medium ot a plurality ot electrical devices operated either by the keyboard ot the pianoforte proper or by an auxiliary keyboard mounted on the pianoiorte from which it can be removed, being` designed exclusively for the organ or by means of the pedal mechanism Which can likewise be mounted and dismonnteo readily.

rlhe accompanying drawings illustrate by u'ay ot example one embodiment ot this invention. illustrating' the improved musical electric nstrument, that is to say. a pieno- 'torte and an organ connected electrically together in any suitable manner. ln these drawings 1r'. ...i #a im.. i n .figures l ani` i un tache.. ai.. a vertical section ot an ordinary pianororte connected electrically to an organ by means ot an improved mechanism forming the subject matter ot the present invention,

Figure 2 is a separate view ot the details ot an electric mechanism actuated by the keyboard ot the pianoforte.

Figure 3 is a view of the details ot an electric interrupting mechanism with movable contacts designed Jfor transmitting' the movement ot the pianoforte keys to determined parts of the organ. or tor opening the circuits relating' thereto, according' to the construction which 'it is preferred to give to theA said movable eer Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view ot the coupling' ot the coils designed Jor opening the valves tor admitting air into thc organ pipes in the case Where the said coils have a normal construction; the said coils being provided With a single Winding'.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic coupling' ot the coils designed for opening the valves for the admission of air into the organ pipes in the case Where these coils are provided With tivo ivindinfrs oi which the first Winding is connected to a keyboard, and the second Winding is connected to the other keyboard ot the instrument.

Figure 6 is a vert-ical seccion of the apparatus comprising' the electric contacts aforesaid and designed, tor instance, it'or view or the playing an organ at a distance by means of the keyboard oit a pianoforte.

Figure 'T is a plan ot the various parts ot the apparatus shown in Figure 6, the vneral arrangement oit which is separated i` om the other portions.

Figure 8 is a iront view of the said apparatus mounted on the keyboard.

F igure 9 shows the dii'erent combinations which can be made by moving the special eccentrics or cams with which the said apparatus is provided. The said combinations are shown in the positions that are most suitable for the proper Working ot the organ.

ligure lO shows the same cams adapted b v means ot devices tofcorrespond with the combination shou'n in Figure 9.

Figures il and 12 are diagrammatic views ot different arrangements ot' the double coil formingw part oi the invention.

lin the various figures the same numbersr are employed to designate the same parts.

Referring first to Figures les; l is the pianoforte provided with a keyboard 2 (hereinafter referred to as the keyboard proper) and a second keyboard 8y correspending' to the mechanism of the organ 39. rllhis keyboard may be mounted 0r dismounted with the greatest facility. 4 is the keyboard.corresponding to the bass notes ot the pianoforte: it is mounted likewise on the pianoforte in such a manner as to be readily dismounted therefrom. 5 is an apparatus comprising a plurality of contacts designed to be actuated by the keyboard 2. For each key of the latter there is provided a small spring` 6 for closingan electric circuit acting upon the orn'an when the corresponding key oit the keyboard Qis depressed. 7 is a stem with which each key ot the keyboard 2 is provided and which according-to the movement ot the said key allows of raising or depressing' the corresponding' spring' 6. 8 is a contact for closing the circuit of the spring' G. 9 and 10 are two stops formingr part of the apparat-us 5; they are designed, each in its turn, to close the electric circuit ot one half and the electric circuit or" the other halt ot a solenoid coil for coupling the pianoforte 1 with the organ or for detachinp; a determined portion ot' said organ 39 therefrom according to the portion of the latter into which the respective current is sent. This current may also be an alternating current in View of the tact that the number of stops analogous to those 9 and 10, and consequently the number of double coils 11 corresponds to the number ot registers of the organ which can be brought into operation by the pianoforte; 12 and 13 are groups ot movable contacts controlled by the corresponding double coil 11; they are designed to transmit 'the current to the coils of the various registers. 14 is a dividing contact for transmitting current to the springs 15 and 16 of the movable groups 12 and 13. 17 and 18 are springs taking cui rent from the movable groups 12 and 13 for transmission to 'the coils ot the respective registers. 19 is a coil designed to cause only one register to sound; 2O are coils for playing two registers. 21 are valves tor discharging the air from the chambers ot the organ. 22 are the air passages. are the pipes of the various registers; 24 is the air duct for operating 'the organ pipes. 25 is the air inlet duct of the bellows 2S operated by the motor 27 for the reservoir 28. 29 is an apparatus comprising multiple contacts similar to the apparatus 5, but in comiection with the keyboard 3 of tbe apparatus 29. which is` provided With contact springs 30 for the stems 31 fixed to the keys o' the keyboard 3 tor operating the small springs 30 ot 'the fixed contacts 32 and ot the stops 33.l 34, which are similar to those marked 9 and 10.

35 are pedals for operating the registers ot the organ mechanism 4. 36 is a lever. bv means of Which the corresponding coil 11 can depress the corresponding group ot contacts 12 and 13. 37 and 38 are leads for transmitting the electric current from the devices 19 and 20, contacts 5 and 29. and keyboards 2 and 3 to the coils ot the organ 39 through the respective groups of the movable contacts 12 and 13. 40 is an apparatus comprising contacts of the pedal keyboard 4, analogous to the devices 5 and 29. 41 is a lead for transmitting electric current from the apparatus 40, said current passing also through the Igroups of movable contacts at the coils of the double basses of the organ, The operation of the improved musical instrument is produced by the passage of the electric current which can be an alternating current and which is caused to flow in the circuits of the solenoid coils when the circuits are closed by means of the keys ot the keyboards and the pedals; these circuits include the groups ot movable contacts and the coils for actuating the air valves in the chambers of the organ.

From the foregoing the operation oai tne improved instrument Will be readily understood.

When it is desired t0 play one or more voices ot the organ conjointly with the pianoforte, the player, after having started the motor 27 for driving the organ bellows 25 Lacassec pushes the stop or stops 9 corresponding to the required voices and Which, by closing the circuit of one half ot the relative solenoid coil 11, thereby moves the core ot the said solenoidso as to depress by means ot the corresuponding lever 36 the group ot contacts 12 or 13 or the tivo groups together according to the case. 1n this manner on the depression of any key of the keyboard 2 'there will be closed through the correspond ing springG the electric circuit of tle coil 19 or of the coils 2O or of all these coils together according to the groups of depressed contacts, thereby producing the rise of the cores of the said coils and consequently the opening of 'the corresponding valve 21 which Will bring the corresponding pipes 23 into play.

Lt on the contrary by pushing the stops 10 in such a maner that the circuit oi"- the second partot the double solenoid coils 11 is closed and the core is moved, there will be produced a rise of the groups ot n'iova'ble coutacts 12 and 13 whereby the circuits oi' the coils 19. 2O will be opened, even it tbe keys of the keyboard 2 are pressed. so that the pianoforte Will sound alone Without bringing the organ in any Way into play.

lt' it then be desired to play with one baud the pianoforte alone or the pianoforte conjointly With a voice ot the organ and to play With the other hand one or more instruments comprised in the portion of the organ which is dependent upon the keyboard 36, it is possible to do so by performing a manoeuvre similar to that already described with reference to the keyboard 2 of the piano. As a` matter of fact the keyboard 3 comprises likewise. as already stated, an arrangement of contacts 29 with its operating'- stops 33. 34 having its oivn lead 3S Wit-li its group of movable contacts similar to those 12. 13. and its operating coil similar to the coil 11.

The coils 19 and 20 take their current either from the lead of the keyboard 2 or from the lead ot' the keyboard 3, and may be actuated at ivill either from one or the other keyboard. The same arrangement applies also to the pedal keyboard 4 which has its own contact apparatus 40 and its operating ystop is in the form of a `small pedal 35.

lt is advisable to note that the solenoid coil for operating the corresponding group ot movable contacts. as Well as the solenoid for operating the valves for bringing the organ pipes into play. can be operated also by means of alterna-.ting current.

ln order to be able. it necessary. to play with a keyboard. in unison a plurality ol registers, for instance a liute and a viola. and by means or" another keyboard a single iter. tor instance. the tlute alone. which is not possible to do bv using a solenoid com-y posed ot only one coil as above described and respectively the solenoids-19 and 19 withy the solenoid-s 19 and 19.

1n =thevcase ot' Figure 4, each ot the solenoids 19, 19", 19 A'and 1119 iis provided with a single -coil indicated yin the Idrawings .by the numerals 44, 44, 44, 44 respectively, which coil, in receiving its current either from Athe keyboard 2,01' from the rkeybo-ard 3, brings into operation the corresponding core of the respective solenoid; the cores o1' the several solenoids beingindicated by 45, 45', 45", '45'.

In the case illustrated in Figurer, on t-he contrary these solenoids 19, 19', 19. 19

are provided with -coils 44, 44, 44, 44'

and `coils 46,' 46", 46, 46W; the` 'first ot" these two sets of vcoils-beingconnected to the-keyboard 2, whereas-the other set is connected =to the keyboard B.

Referring to Figures 6 and 10, the 'multiple Yelectricy contact apparatus comprises la box 66 consisting of a body U-shaped of iron or brass the lengthotl which exceeds that of the keyboard by so much as is necessary to enable it to rest with its ends upon the supports 67. rllhis box is closed at the top by a plate 68. In this box, which is arranged on the rear part of the keyboard in order to avoid interfering with the movement of the fingers of the player, are lodged insulating blocks 69 and 70 on the former of which (69) there are mounted the fixed contacts 71 of the end 7 2 from which leads one ot the wires ot the corresponding circuits of the receiving instrument or machine. On the second insulating block 7 O by means ot screws 73 constituting the terminals for clamping the other wire of the same circuit there are fixed a plurality ot' small springs 74 equal in number to the keys. These springs are fixed to the stems 75 sliding in the interior of the block 69 and resting upon the keys of the keyboard. The depressing ot' each white key 76 or black key 77 thus causes the corresponding stem 7 5 to descend and carry with it the corresponding` spring 71, thereby closing the corresponding circuit.

their the said multiple electric contactapparatus is to be employed for playing the organ at a distance as in the example illustratcd in the dra-wings. the said apparatus may be constructed with advantage in a slightly more complicated manner as *hereinafter described.

The stem 75, instead oi. carrying only one spring 74, carries at its uppercnd two such springs (Fig. 7*) with'the corresponding contact points 78 and 79. Below each spring there lis an eccentric which is mounted like all `the other similar ecccntrics of` the other springs on a common shaft 9.1 operated by a special sector 92 comprising helical cams. This sector' is set in motion by means of three co-axial solenoids 93 (Fig. `8). These solenoids are adapted to move 'the shaft 91 and'consequently the -eccent1-ics Y90 on the said shaft, into three different positions. The eccentrics yof the two springs of each stem yare xed in positions 180D apart.

By means-of this apparatus there can `be sounded, for instance, through the medium of the springs 74, the corresponding note upon the organ, and by means of the spring 74 the octave of that note, which will vbe readily understood in the light of the -tollowing remarks.

Assuming for instance, that thceccentrics 90 have been moved into the position a, in Figure 10, whichis here designated the normal position, then on playing one of the keys 94, 95, 96 (F ig. 9), only the corresponding spring 74 will be -supported by the eccentric 90, and consequently, the pipe l94er 95 or-96 lwill sound according to the circumstances of the'case.

iVhen thef'eccentrics 90 are moved intothe position fb of Figure '10, say Vby the vhand of another person, then on the depressing of each key, two springs will be depressed and by this means the sound of two notes will be obtained for each key so that on playing the key 94 its octave 95 will also be played and by depressing the key 95 the pipes 96 and 97 will be played.

Finally, on moving the eccentrics into the position c Fig. 10, for instance, the octave, this will prevent the springs 7 5 from being depressed on to the keys and only the springs 74 will be depressed. Consequently the operation ot the key 94 will play only one pipe 95. The operation of the key 95 will play only its octave 96, and the operation of the key 96 will play only the pipe 97.

Every organist will readily appreciate the advantages and the varied effects which this very simple system of contacts can produce.

The accompanying drawings show readily the diversity of operations which can be performed with the two systems illustrated therein.

that I claim is 1. In combination a piano including a keyboard, an organ, an auxiliary keyboard only serving for playing the organ, a pedal counterbase keyboard applied to the piano, electric solenoids for actuating the air valves of the pipes of the organ, electric circuits connccting the keys of the different keyboards to said solenods, contact devices inserted in said circuits and apt to be acted by the keys of the keyboards, movable contacts interposed in said circuits, means connecting said movable contacts in groups and double solenoids acting said groups of movable contacts in such a manner as either to allow or to prevent the Contact devices actuated by the keys ot' the keyboards closing the con responding electric circuits.

Q. An apparatus as claimed in claim l, characterized in that each of the double solenoids acting the groups ot movable contacts is so constituted that, according as current is passed by the actuation of corresponding stops into one or the other part of said solenoids, its core unit is moved in one or the other direction to raise or depress, by means of a suitable lever, the corresponding group of movable contact.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that each of the said contact devices includes a stationary contact or a spring contact member arranged to engage the stationary Contact member, and a stem engaged with a key of one of the keyboards and adapted, When said key is in a position of rest, to maintain the spring contact out of engagement With the stationary contact member.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim l characterized in that the said movable contacts and the connecting means therefor including, the stationary contact member, mov- 5. An apparatus of the character de-` scribed, a housing, an insulating member supported in said housing, a plurality of stems mounted in the insulating member and adapted to be arranged above the keys of a keyboard, a second insulating member ar ranged in said housing, a plurality of spring contact members secured to the second insulating member, said spring contact members.

being` engaged and operated by said stems and relatively stationary contact members being engaged by the spring contact members. y

6. A combination with the keyboard ot a musical instrument, a housing arranged above the keyboard, a stem engageable and operable by each key of the keyboard, a pair of spring contact members adapted to be engaged and actuated by each stem, relatively stationary contacts adapted to be engaged by the spring contact members, cams adapted to move and maintain the spring contact members in inoperative position, and electromagnetic means Jfor actuating said cams.

In testimony whereof I aiX my signature.

D ANGELO BARBIER. 

